New York Scaffold Law Defense Coalition Launches as Construction Deaths Rise

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Gorayeb & Associates, P.C. has announced the launch of the New York Scaffold Law Defense Coalition, a data-focused initiative that will provide verified statistics, legal analysis, and public resources related to Labor Law §240. The Coalition's launch comes as construction worker fatalities in New York have reached their highest level in a decade, with falls from elevation accounting for approximately 48% of construction-related deaths over the past 10 years.

Why it matters

The Scaffold Law, also known as Labor Law §240, requires property owners and general contractors to provide adequate safety protections for workers performing elevation-related tasks. Industry groups have argued that the law increases insurance premiums and project costs, while advocates maintain that it plays an important role in promoting safety compliance and accountability in high-risk construction environments. The launch of the Coalition aims to provide policymakers and the public with accessible data and legal context to inform discussions about potential reforms to the statute.

The details

According to publicly available data, 30 construction workers died in New York City in 2023, with 74 fatalities statewide. The Coalition's website, NYScaffoldLaw.com, will provide year-by-year analysis of construction fatality trends from 2020 through 2023, documentation of safety violation patterns, and legal commentary examining how the statute operates within New York's broader workplace safety framework. Gorayeb & Associates has represented construction workers in elevation-related injury cases for several decades and states that many of these cases involved alleged failures to provide required fall protection or safety equipment.

• In 2023, 30 construction workers died in New York City, with 74 fatalities statewide.
• Over the past decade, falls from elevation accounted for approximately 48% of construction-related deaths in New York.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Coalition will engage with construction unions, worker advocacy groups, and safety organizations to provide research and commentary during legislative discussions. Legal experts affiliated with the initiative are available for media interviews and public testimony.